Nay Pyi Taw April 10
A ceremony to donate cash and books and periodicals for development of libraries in the whole Myanmar was held at National Library here this morning, attended by Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
Also present together with the Senior General were SAC Joint Secretary Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo and SAC members, union level officials, union ministers, the Nay Pyi Taw Council chair, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the Nay Pyi Taw Command commander, deputy ministers, departmental officials, donors, invited guests, officials of Nay Pyi Taw Libraries Foundation, members of Nay Pyi Taw Book Club, village librarians, and officials of Nay Pyi Taw Writers Association.
First, the Senior General and attendees watched a video clip on libraries as educational banks to share knowledge.
In his address, the Senior General said on 3 April, books and periodicals were presented for libraries in the whole country and libraries of military headquarters and battalions and units. At that moment, a thought came into mind to develop libraries for enhancing the public knowledge. Officials were instructed to make arrangements to donate books and periodicals, follow[1]ed by the successful holding of today’s ceremony.
In Myanmar language, a library means a place where books are kept to be read and to study and borrow. The country has libraries, but they should meet the prevailing situation. According to the 2019 interim census, the country has 46.463 million people of age 5 and above. Of them, 8.1 percent have never attended school. Over 900,000 or 3.8 percent of 25.169 million people of age 25 and above have Ceremony to donate cash and books and periodicals for development of libraries in the whole Myanmar held, attended by Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing Nay Pyi Taw April 10 no school education, 49.47 percent or 12.83 million of them have reached primary and post primary levels, 21.72 percent or 5.46 million reached middle school level, 13.3 percent has completed high school education, and 11.4 percent or 2.68 million are graduates. It has become a national concern as the majority of students leave school after completion of primary education.
As regards occupation, about 80 precent is working in farming, forestry and fish and meat sectors, services and trade sectors, basic handicraft sector and other related businesses. About 70 precent of the population is rural people and the remaining 30 precent are rural dwellers. Rural people are engaged in farming, wood and bamboo related businesses. Socio-economy of rural people must be developed. The country must promote their businesses and knowledge, and the best way is to set up libraries that are helpful for their education.
The country has 330 townships and 471 towns, totaling 801. It has 3,485 wards, 23,910 village-tracts and 63,210 villages. The Information and Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Information has opened 410 public libraries at district and township level, and over 3,500 are run by MLF assistance or under the program of local bodies, people and community. The country needs many more libraries. Libraries must be provided with buildings, accessories and books to have all their characteristics.
The primary business of the State is agriculture and livestock farms being operated in rural areas. Hence, it is necessary to encourage libraries for sharing knowledge with those in the farms. In this regard, books at the libraries must be public readable ones. The books on relevant sectors must be kept at the libraries, for example, Moreover, readers have to dis[1]cuss and talk about thing they have read for dissemination of knowledge. Hence, it is necessary to hold seminars in relevant wards and villages weekly or monthly. The Myanmar proverb mentions one morning for water and seven days for food. Likewise, lack of literary knowledge will be difficulties along the life. Due to lack of literary knowledge and weak knowledge, many people face difficulties in daily routine. It is necessary to strive for changing their lifestyle and shaping the wise society in the future. In so doing, it must be a long term plan not a just short term plan.
The government is implementing two political visions: strengthening the genuine, disciplined multi-party democratic system and building the Union based on democratic and federal systems based on the roadmap and objectives. In so doing, it is a must do for emergence of a well-versed human resources and shaping the knowledgeable society. It is necessary to consider how to share knowledge with the people by spending the least cost. Moreover, books and publications must be published at fair prices as well as the literatures benefiting the rural areas must be published.
Albeit publishing, State-owned and private newspapers cannot spread across the nation or are weak to reach entire nation. Newspapers aim to inform the people with daily events and information as quickly as possible, and it is necessary to publish newspapers to countryside. At present, newspapers are posted online for enabling readers to read the news and information quickly. Information and articles in the newspapers must actually benefit the people with understandable usage and presentation.
As today’s cash and book donations for development of libraries are noble one for sharing knowledge, all book and cash donations are recorded. Although the books are old, these are new ones for those who have not read. If those who are able to donate books hold many times it will benefit the people. So, everybody is requested to do so. The Senior General urged all to strive for improvement of knowledge and socioeconomic life of the nation in order to contribute to implementation of the political process and national visions.
The Senior General accepted cash and book donations from Union level organizations, ministries and well-wishers and presented certificates of honour. Chairman of the Union Election Commission U Ko Ko explained cash and book donations for development of libraries.
After the ceremony, the Senior General cordially greeted the attendees and viewed round the books displayed at the ceremony and the e-library and reading room of the National Library.
At the ceremony, Union-level organizations, ministries, regiments and units of Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air), departmental organizations and well-wishers donated Ks-560,087,500 and 48,357 copies of fiction and nonfiction books. At the same time, region and state governments hosted donations of Ks-425,077,950 and 30,854 books. So, total donations amounted to Ks-985,165,450 and 79,211 copies of books.
